Species of Lavender

What makes the Lavender Species?

There are a lot of different types of Lavenders and they grow across different continents of the world. There are about 39 different species known. All Lavenders belong to the genus 'Lavandula' and are in the plant family known as Labiatae. This plant family also includes other garden herb plants such as Thymes, Mints, Rosemary, Basil, Sage and Savory.

These herbs share some characteristics in common. They all have Lavender flowersthat are "lipped" in form which is why the plant family name of Labiatae or the newly accepted botanical term Lamiaceae. Their stems when cut cross-wise are square in appearance. Lastly, these Lavender plants are all aromatic and fragrant and can be used to makedistilled Lavender essential oil.

Most common or garden Lavenders are members of the Stoechas and Spica groups. While the more unusual Lavender species that grow and are cultivated in areas of New Zealand and Australia belong to the third group known as Pterostachys Lavender.